The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department has reminded restaurant applicants that they must confirm their venues permit the entry of dogs, following media enquiries regarding the eligibility and operational status of dog-friendly eateries.
The department stated that application forms explicitly require applicants to confirm that their premises permit dogs, and to declare that all submitted information is true. Applicants found providing false information may face legal liability.
As rules governing the use of various premises are subject to tenancy agreements, property titles and deeds of mutual covenant, the department stressed that restaurant operators are responsible for clarifying these facts with property stakeholders. A consensus must be reached before submitting an application.
The department added that it respects the legal rights and decisions of all property stakeholders.
If an applicant is found to have provided incorrect information – and the venue does not actually permit dogs – the department will suspend the application or revoke any permission already granted. This applies both during the application process and after approval.
Responding to media reports claiming that several establishments on the “List of Food Premises Permitted for Dog Entry” had closed down or did not exist, the department clarified that these claims do not align with its records. It emphasised that the licences of all participating premises were valid at the time of the open ballot.
Furthermore, a dedicated team visited every approved establishment. For restaurants not open for business during the visits, the team proactively contacted licence holders to confirm they still required the permission before issuing permits.
If an approved restaurant decides to permanently cease operations, withdraw its permit application, or revoke its permission, the department will reallocate the quota to applicants on the waiting list based on the original ballot results. Updated venue details will be uploaded to the dedicated webpage once all procedures are complete.
